Amphiphilic graft copolymeric micelle using dextrin and poly (N-vinyl caprolactam) via RAFT polymerization: Development and application

Abstract

Dextrin and poly (N-vinyl caprolactam) based amphiphilic graft copolymer has recently been developed using RAFT polymerization. The prepared graft copolymer has been characterized in details using FTIR and ¹H NMR spectral analyses, GPC, TGA, FESEM, TEM and DLS analyses. GPC analysis results indicate that the polymerization is controlled, while the LCST value of the copolymer suggests that the synthesized copolymer demonstrates sol-gel behaviour on applying temperature. FESEM and TEM analyses envisage that the graft copolymer has spherical morphology with nanoscale dimension. DLS study reveals that the micellar size vary with change of pH and temperature, demonstrating the dual-responsive behaviour of the graft copolymer. Finally, the developed graft copolymer shows worthy efficacy towards the pH and thermo-responsive release of encapsulated pyrene in sustained manner.

Keywords: Amphiphilic; Micelle; RAFT polymerization.